区别辨析match、equal与rival

match、equal与rival这些动词均含“相称、比得上、与……相比”之意。

match : 指对手之间力量、强度、性能或利益等的较量或竞争。

• It would be difficult to match the service this airline gives its customers.
  很难赶上这家航空公司的乘客服务水平。

equal : 指在数量、价值或程度等方面已完全相等。

• 16 ounces equals one pound.
  16盎司等于1磅。
• We raised over $500 for charity last year and we’re hoping to equal that this year.
  去年我们筹得的善款超过500美元，今年我们希望可以跟去年做得一样好。

rival : 指某人或某物在和对手竞争中，在能力、质量等方面都能与之相匹敌，都能比得上。

• No computer can rival a human brain for/in complexity.
  没有任何计算机比得上人脑复杂。
• The beauty of the country is only rivalled by (= is as great in degree as) the violence of its politics.
  该国的美丽风光非同寻常，而其国内政治的残暴同样惊世骇俗。